Nintendo Announces Release Dates For First Major Titles On Switch This Year, More Switch Online Games

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which is now at a solid 80 on Metacritic, may be coming out this week, but Nintendo recently announced the release dates for the Switch’s first major new release this year as well as a re-release on 3DS. Business Wire reports that Yoshi’s Crafted World, a sequel to Yoshi’s Woolly World on Wii U, will be releasing on March 29. Similar to its predecessor, it is a side-scrolling platformer in which Yoshi uses everyday items to aide itself in its adventure. Furthermore, if it is anything like its predecessor otherwise, then it is bound to be one charming platformer.

Additionally, Nintendo and Kirby fans will be able to get their hands on Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarnon Nintendo 3DS on March 8. While similar in structure to the original 2010 release, save for its handheld functionalities, there are also modes including classic Kirby enemies King Dedede and Meta Knight. Released by the same developer as Yoshi’s Woolly World and Yoshi’s Crafted World, Good-Feel, Kirby’s Epic Yarn was also a charming and well-handling platformer that requires the player to manipulate the environment to their advantage so that Kirby could make his way through his bizarre yarn-ified existence.

In addition to all of this, Nintendo has announced two more retro games that shall be coming to the Switch Online service. Indeed, Den of Geek! reportsZelda II: The Adventure of Link and Blaster Master will be coming to the service on January 16.

These are both nice additions to the growing service. On the one hand, you have a rather formula-breaking underdog-like entry in a well-respected series in Zelda II, while Blaster Master is a difficult action-filled shooter, the likes of which were not hard to come by back in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Nintendo Leads December’s Physical Sales In The United Kingdom

Nintendo has simply bursted with success in the past couple months. Crystallized by the fact that the Switch is this generation’s best-selling console, Nintendo has seen some major commercial success since Black Friday and through the holidays. Of course, that is due in large part to the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Apparently, this is true abroad, as Nintendo Life reports that Nintendo was the best-selling publisher for physical games in December in the UK. Presenting a list of the top 20 best-selling games, in physical copies, Nintendo Life demonstrates that Nintendo snagged four spots. Indeed, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate came in at fourth place, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, and Super Mario Party all came in at seventh place, twelfth place, and sixteenth place, respectively.

While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had been outdone by the likes of Red Dead Redemption II, FIFA 19, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, there’s no question that Nintendo, as a publisher, went the distance in December.

Just Add This To The Pile

Unsurprisingly, another Metroid Prime 4 rumor has surfaced. While everybody anticipates the Nintendo Direct expected to drop in January, an article by Bad Five indicates a possible release date for Metroid Prime 4. They report that Czech online retailer SuperGamer hastily revealed a potential release date for the game, which, if right, is November 29, 2019.

I’m inclined to take many of these rumors with exactly one grain of salt. I’m inclined because, for one, Metroid Prime 4 rumors haven’t been incredibly reliable thus far. Second, hasty online release date postings aren’t exactly new. Years back, there had been an online posting for the remaster of a Mass Effect trilogy, something I’d be quite enthusiastic for, though unless development has truly stalled, I don’t quite think that online posting’s premise was true.

Regardless, we can all still hope for this to be true! As someone who just recently beat Super Metroid, and have previously completed the Metroid Prime games, I couldn’t be more exacted for real news on Metroid Prime 4!

Nintendo Announces Release Dates For Final Fantasy Re-Releases

Nintendo made waves last September when it announced that it was bringing some Final Fantasy titles to the Switch. Now, we have some concrete news for their releases. Nintendo announced, as Game Informer reports, on Twitter, That Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will both be releasing on Switch on April 16, 2019.

Additionally, on April 30, 2019, the Switch will be seeing the release of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. April must be Final Fantasy Appreciation Month or something because that’s quite a bit of Final Fantasy! Personally, I’ve only partially played Final Fantasy III/VI, but I respect the series for its popularity and massive fan following. In any case, if you’re a Switch owner, and a Final Fantasy fanatic, then April is the month for you!

This Week’s Releases

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a re-release of New Super Mario Bros. U in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxewill be releasing January 11 at a price of $59.99 USD. It appears to be identical to its Wii U iteration, save for improved presentation, as well as new modes and included DLC content New Super Luigi U. While I have not played this release, I did complete New Super Mario Bros. U several years ago, which was a great experience.

Otherwise, the eShop did get several new releases this week. Bury me, my Love, a unique adventure/simulation hybrid about a Syrian refugee’s journey to Europe, was released on January 10. It currently sells for $4.99 USD.

As well, Fitness Boxingwas released this week for the Switch. Running at $49.99 USD, the game is classified as a “Sports” and “Music” game in which the player boxes to various rhythms. Since I doubt there will be a Wii Fit Deluxe, this is one of the more unique ways to get fit using your Switch! I could see this as being a very beneficial tool for those who have made being fit their New Year’s resolution! Now, if only I can cut out desserts too…

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